elaine

phew!!

The deadline to vote on the 2018 Annie Awards was last night at midnight. And I got my votes in with 24 hours to spare!

ASIFA is the Association Internationale du Film d’ Animation – or in English – The International Animated Film Association. I am fortunate to be a voting member of ASIFA Hollywood. Which means – each year around this time, I’m swamped…watching tons of animation! Definitely, nothing to complain about!

Not your typical ASIFA member

Let me preface this with an aside.

I’m not your typical ASIFA voting member.
I don’t work for Disney.
I don’t work for Dreamworks Animation.

In fact, I don’t work for any of the large animation studios that are known to influence award results. Do my votes even make a difference? That, I’ll never know. What I do know is that the animations I vote for have talent, skill, creativity – and most of all – story.

Speaking of ‘not-your-typical’…Revolting Rhymes definitely falls into this category. Maybe that’s why I like it so much. This outstanding animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s twisted fairy tales was a treasure buried deep in this year’s Annie Award nominations.

Animated by a Triggerfish – a relatively small South African animation studio, Revolting Rhymes was a monumental achievement.

Magical thinking

New Year’s Day is like a video game. On the first day of the year, you’re granted a new life.

If you asked me for my New Year Resolution, it would be to find out who I am.

— Cyril Cusack

At least that's what were taught

We make resolutions. We envision a new life – one that is better than that of the previous year. But the reality is, New Year’s Day is just another day.

Don’t get me wrong – having the ability to draw an arbitrary line in the sand and use it as a guidepost for making change isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it can be very beneficial. It’s only when we think that the day itself has some magical characteristic to evoke change.

This year I just wanna go on more adventures. Be around good energy. Connect with people. Learn new things. Grow.

— Intention

Time to reflect

Yesterday, I took some time to reflect on things I want to change in my life. From learning new skills and managing stress – to being in the moment and maintaining a high fitness level as I age. There was plenty to reflect on.

New Year’s Day is a good day to create awareness, as a means to evoke change.

Trollhunters

I’m a huge fan of animation. One of my favorite animated children’s series is Dreamworks Animation’s Trollhunters. Not to give away any of the storylines, but one of the characters ends up with the name NotEnrique.

Oh no. You did not just call me shallow, did you?

— NotEnrique

NotPresident

Last year about this time I was fretting. I was fretting about the impending inauguration of

NotPresident

I dreaded it. I fretted. I took part in the Women’s March. And a year later, he is still…NotPresident.

Saying "Happy Holidays" is a war on Christmas?

From November 1st through January 15th, the world's major religions observe 29 different holidays.
Yours isn't the only one that counts.

So I ask myself

As much as I would love the new year to begin with a new inauguration…the reality is, that’s a ways off.

'Tis the season

The holidays are a special time of the year. It’s a time of giving. It’s a time of receiving. And – for many of us it’s a time of expectation.

What did Santa bring you?

We’re indoctrinated from a young age. We’re given the ‘gift’ of expectation. The expectation that if we are good – Santa will bring us something special.

For most of us, expectations extend well into adulthood. We live with the expectation that we will receive something special from our spouse or significant other. The stress about the expectations placed on us to give the perfect gift. And how about the expectation of family coming together, and for this one special day – experiencing a Norman Rockwell Christmas.

Peace beginswhen expectation ends

— Sri Chinmoy

The gift of the unexpected

But sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are those that are completely unexpected.

This street musician was tipped by a young girl. What happened next…was magical.

(Don’t forget to click the ‘un-mute’ button in the bottom right-hand corner after you hit play!)

If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail

— Heraclitus

Change it up

So this Holiday season, change it up.

Instead of it being a time of giving…make it a time of forgiving.
Make it a season of receiving the everyday gifts that life has to offer.
Then, make it magical by expecting the unexpected.